Transporation containers for bulk materials



May 27, 1958 c. E. JOHANSSON TRANSPORTATION CONTAINERS FOR BULK MATERIALS Original Filed oot. l8

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIO'IIIIIIIII -/MVEN7'OE- CARL E JOHANSSON May 27, 1958 c. E. JOHANSSON I 7 2,836,454

TRANSPORTATION CONTAINERS FOR BULK MATERIALS CARL. E. JOHANfiSON e i f May 27, 1958 c. E. JOHANSSON TRANSPORTATION CONTAINERS FOR BULK MATERIALS Original Filed Oct. 18, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll? llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll I. Wv@m@@@@@@@@@@@@ May 27, 1958 c. E. JOHANSSON TRANSPORTATION CONTAINERS FOR BULK MATERIALS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Oct. 18, 1949 y 7, 1958 c. E. JOHANSSON 2,836,454

I TRANSPORTATIQN CONTAINERS FOR BULK MATERIALS 0riginal Filed Oct. 18, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 -1I!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIl/lzllwll/IA Illfllll.

-//Vl/E/V7'0 CARL E. JOHANSSON United States Patent TRANSPORTATION CONTAINERS FOR BULK MATERIALS Carl E.'Johansson, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Youngstown Steel Door Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application October 18, 1949, Serial No. 121,986, now Patent No. 2,697,002, dated December 14, 1954. 13224222 and this application May 4, 1954, Serial No.

6 Claims. (Cl. 294-69) This invention relates to transportation containers for bulk materials and particularly to such containers which have bottom discharge doors permitting quick and complete discharge of the contents of the containers.

Containers of this character are at the present time customarily provided with pairs of doors forming the bottom of the containers. The outer edges of the pairs of doors are hinged to the containers and when the doors are closed, their inner edges meet along the center line of the bottom of the container. To operate the pairs of doors chains or cables of substantially Y-configuration are secured to the corners of the meeting edges of the doors. The chains or cables extend upwardly through ducts formed on the end walls of the containers to the top of the containers so that they may be engaged and actuated by the lifting hooks of hoisting mechanism.

The containers described above possess certain inherent defects. When the handling of these containers, discharge of lading and closing of the discharge doors are accomplished by the common single drum hoisting mechanism, excessive consumption of time and the continuous attendance of extra workmen are inevitable. This will become apparent from the description of the operation of such containers by a single drum hoisting mechanism in lines 43 to 112 on page 3 of the patent to Smith, 1,645,259, granted October 11, 1927, to which reference is here made.

The time consumed in the operation of these containers may be reduced by the use of double drum hoisting mechanism whose mode of operation is described beginning with line 70, column 1 and continuing to line 29, column 2, on page 2 of the patent to Fildes, 2,036,170, granted March 31, 193 6, to which reference is here made. However, this mechanism is more expensive than the single drum hoisting mechanism and is frequently not available. Moreover, these containers are not provided with locking means for the discharge doors but rely entirely on their Weight to prevent opening of the doors when the containers are resting upon a support and upon the care exercised by the operator of the hoisting mechanism in maintaining the chains or cables connected to the doors taut when the containers are being handled.

It is the main object of this invention to provide containers for the shipment of bulk materials having hinged bottom discharge doors which will permit rapid and complete discharge of lading with the use of single drum hoisting mechanism, and with the elimination of the continuous attendance of and danger to workmen.

A further object is to provide containers of the character set forth above which shall have single hinged bottom discharge doors.

A further object is to provide containers having hinged bottom discharge doors capable of being opened and closed independently of the hoisting mechanism used to handle the containers.

A further object is to provide containers having hinged bottom discharge doors and capable of being handled bysmgle drum hoisting mechanism wherein the doors may be opened and closed either from the ground or from the cab on the hoisting mechanism.

A further object is to provide containers having hinged bottom discharge doors capable of being opened and closed independently of the hoisting mechanism used to handle containers and automatically locked when swung to closed position.

A further object is to provide containers having hinged bottom discharge doors capable of being opened and closed independently of the hoisting mechanism used to handle the containers and locking mechanism operable to locking position by the doors when the latter are swung to closed position.

A further object is to provide containers having hinged bottom discharge doors capable of being opened and closed independently of the hoisting mechanism used to handle the'containers and locking mechanism operable to locking position by the doors when the latter are swung to closed position, wherein the locking mechanism will automatically return to locking engagement with the doors in the event that it is disengaged from the doors so long as the containers are resting upon a support.

A further object is to provide containers having hinged bottom discharge doors capable of being opened and closed independently of the hoisting mechanism used to handle the containers and locking mechanism operable to locking position by the doors when the latter are swung to closed position wherein the locking mechanism is relieved of the Weight of the lading and/or the doors by the member upon which the containers are supported.

A further object is to provide containers having hinged bottom discharge doors capable of being opened and closed independently of the hoisting mechanism used to handle the containers and locking mechanism operable to locking position by thedoors when the latter are swung to closed position wherein the locking mechanism is so constructed as to remain in retracted position as long as the doors are open.

A further object is to provide containers having hinged bottom discharge doors capable of being opened and closed independently of the hoisting mechanism used to handle the containers and mechanism for locking the doors wherein the mechanism is so constructed as to avoid lifting of the load when actuated to release the doors.

A further object is to provide containers which shall have single hinged bottom discharge doors capable of being easily closed and locked.

A further object is to provide containers of sturdy construction having hinged bottom discharge doors lying within the perimeter of the containers and so associated therewith as to prevent loss of bulk materials in the container.

A further object is to provide containers for the shipment of bulk materials having a novel base construction and hinged doors lying within the perimeter of the containers and so associated with the base thereof as to prevent loss of the materials in the containers without the need for sealing strips.

A further object is to provide containers for the ship- PatentedMay ,27, 1958,

i of "a channel-shaped 7 3 and door of the container when the container is suspended and in dot and dash lines the relative position 'of the locking member and detent at the instant of disengagement. t

Fig. 5 is a verticalsection similarioFig. 3 showing the relative position between the locking [member and the detent when .the door has 'been unlocked.

Fig. 6 is avertical section taken on line 6'6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 77 of Fig. l. s s

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 88 of Fig. 2.

Fig 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 9-9 of Fig.8; p 7

Referring to the drawings wherein apr'eferr'edembodiment of the 'invention is shown the reference numeral 10 designates a container only the lower portion ofwhich is illustrated. The upperportion of the container may be of any desired construction and is preferably that illn'str'atjed 'in .th'e p'atent to Ditehfield,j2,12t6,95,0, granted August 16; 1938,10 whichrr'eference'is herernade.

Theco'ntainer embodies sidewalls 11and12 and end wall1s 13fand 14. These walls which terminate above the 'bottom of the containeraslshown more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawingsare connected by ni eans'of corner angle members 15,16, 17 and .18fwhich extend substau-.

tially to the bottom of the. container The corner angle members are secured as by'ineans of rivetingorithe like to the base of the container. The base is'formed of. substantially channel-shaped 'side'and end members 19 and 20 and 21, and 22.- With the .exception hereinafter noted, the base members are'substan tially the same in construction and each embodies a horizontally disposed'web 23, an outer-downwardly extendand lower inwardly directed flanges 50 and 51, the latter of which is disposed upon the lowerinwa'rdly extending flange 45 of the marginal reinforcing member. The marginal door reinforcing member 43 which is located at the hinged edge of the door'is formed with a sloping web 52, an inwardly directed lower horizontal flange 53 which is alined with the similar flanges 'of the other door reinforcing members, anup'per outwardly extending flange 54 alined with similar flanges of the other ing leg 24 to which 'a'co'rner-angle is fastenedand which is formed'with a horizontally inturned flange 25 adapted to engage a support upon which the container maybe placed and an inner downwardly extending flange 26 terminating above the bottom of the container. It will be .apparent from theforegoing description thatnot only is the container rectangular in section but that the arrangement of the base channel members provides a rectangular discharge, opening at the :bottom-of.-the container which is adapted to bec'l'osed by a hinged door 27 preferably "reinforced by corrugations 28.

'Inorderto direct the inatrial'within the container toward the discharge openingthe container embodies side and end inwardly directed slope sheets 29, 30, 31 and 32.' As is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings the slopesheetsare secured tothe inner face of the lower margins of the side andend walls from which they slope downwardly and 'inwardly'to-a-point'above thefbase channel members. At this point the slopesheet s'are providedwith vertical flanges 33, 34, 35 vand 36 which are in alinement with the respective .innerdownwardly extending flanges of the welding to the latter.

' Wth reference, to' Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the door 27 is formed of'aepair of corrugated plates 37 a and 38' which are'spliced by means-of a Z-shaped reinforcing member 39. The door-embodies similar substantially Z-shaPed 'end marginal reinforcing members 40 and 41, a substantially similar side marginal reinforcing member 42 and a side marginal reinforcing member 43 which is also substantially Z-shaped in section.

The end marginal reinforcing-members and .thefirst substantially channel-shaped 1 base members and which are secured as by means of mentioned side reinforcing .memberof' the door com- 7 prise a vertical web 44, an inwardly extending lowerhorizontal flange 45, an outwardly extending upper horizontalflange 46, andan upwardly'extending vertical flange 47 formed on the outer of the upper outwardly extending flange 46. Additionally, the central portion of the-side marginalreinforcing member 42 is reinforced by means member 48' having a web "49 abutting the .web 44of the reinforcing member'and upper door reinforcing members and an upwardly extending vertical flange 55. As is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings the upwardly extending members of the door are so positioned that when the door is closed they lie adjacent to and outwardly of the inner vertical depending flanges of the base members of the container so as to prevent loss of lading from the container.

Atrthemiddle of the door the'upstanding flange 47 of the marginal reinforcing member'42 is cut away as clear-I 1y shown at 56 in Fig. 2 of th'edrawin'gsfi At thisjlocation a vertically extending channel-shaped'member 57 is secured to the upper surface of the doo'r as by means I of welding. The web 58 of the *memberi57 lies inwaricl ly of the adjacent edge of the door and the 'flangesithjereof 59 and 60 extending outwardly and are secured 'asfby means of welding 'tothe adjacentedges oft'he upstand'-' ing flange 47 which result from the coping of 'this'flange." V Opposite the channel member 57 spaced cheek plates 61 and 62dare secured to the side wall 'lliand extend inwardly therefrom to a "point overlapping the swinging edge of theldoor when the latter is closed. The upper edge of 'each of these platesslopes inwardly anddownwardly from the side wall and the inner side edge of g each of these platesis vertical. A cover plate 63 having the same configuration as theiupper and inner side'edges of the cheek plates spans the latter and is secured thereto as 'by means of welding. As is shown more clearly in Fig; 3 of the drawings, the lower edge of the cover plate terminates above the upper surface of 'the' door when the latter is closed and thevertical portion 64 thereof lies 'a'djacenfto and inwardly of the web 58 of the channelmember 57 secured to the door. The cover plate 63 and the cheek plates 61 and 62 form a pocket inwardly of the adjacent side wall of a container fora purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Referring again to the cheek plates 61 and 62 [it will be seen particularly with reference to Fig/3 of the drawings that these plates extend downwardly to the;

inwardly extending lower flange 25 of ,thegbase member 19. The lower edge of th'cse plates 'is incline'd upwardly as indicated at 65 and is formedwith' a'recess'. 66which is adapted to receive the upwardly extending flange 47 of theimarginalreinforcing memb'erf42' -when the door isclosed. fFrom the recess 66 theloweriedg'cs or" 'theflc'heek'jplates extend inwardly as indicated at .67.

V the cover Ihejrelationship between the cover and cheek to the lower edge of the vertical portion 64 of plate. plates' and the mefmber 5.7 prevents loss of .ladingfrom the container. a 1

According to I the invention,

This mechanism isreceived within to this'end slope sheet .30 is cut away "and web'23 and flange 26 .of' member .19 are .cut away as indicated at,

at theecheek plates 61 .and 62.to which they" are securedas by meansfof welding. e r p The locking mec'hanismembodies a:substantially hookshaped-locking member .69-which 72 retained in the member by,-means of-aipin 73. A bushing 74 is 'disposed between the roller 72.,and1thefpinf locking mechanism. is .pro-

p disposedvsubstantially vertical when the door is closed. I The locking member is pivotallymounted upon ahorizontallydisposed pin .70 i which extends betweenand is secured to the eheek plates At its upper end the locking,

3 73; At' its lower end the locking member 69 is provided with a ledge 75 and above the ledge and in spaced relationship thereto the locking member is formed with spaced ears 76 and 77 between which a roller 78 is mounted upon a pin 79 secured to the ears 76 and 77. A bushing 8t? is disposed between the roller 78 and the in 79. P The locking mechanism also embodies a locking detent 81 for the locking member 69. The locking detent comprises a pair of spaced segmental plates 82 and 83, the outer edges of which are curved as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and of the drawings. A curved cover plate 84 spans and is secured to the curved edges of the segmental plates as by means of welding. A pin 35 extends between and is secured to the segmental plates 82 and 83 and serves to mount a roller 86 through the agency of a bushing 87. The detent is pivotally mounted upon a pin 88 and bushing 59 which extend between and are secured to the cheek plates 61 and 62. A helical spring 90 is disposed between the cheek plate 61 and the segmental plate 82. One end of this spring is secured to the cheek plate 61 as shown at 91 and the other end is secured to a boss 92 which is welded to the outer face of the segmental plate 32. A cable 93 is secured to the lower end of the cover plate 84 and follows the curve of this,

plate to the outside of the container.

The housing formed by the cheek plates 61 and 62 and the cover plate 63 is closed by means of a plate member 94 which is secured as by means of riveting to the lower margin of the side wall 11 and to the base member 19. A circular opening 95 is formed in the closer plate 94 and is covered by means of a frustroconical member 96, the closed end of which is formed with an opening in which a hollow bushing 97 is secured. The cable 93 extends through the hollow bushing 97 and its outer end is formed with a loop 98 which is used to apply a pull upon the cable and swinging movement to the detent member.

The relationship between the doors, the locking member and the detent when the container is placed upon the floor of a freight car or other support is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. At this time the locking mechanism is relieved of the weight of the door and the contents of the container, this weight being carried by the support. Similarly, by reason of the oblong opening 99 formed in the eye of each of the hinges 100, the latter are relieved of the weight of the door and of the contents of the container. At this time also the upper surface of the door is in contact with the roller 78 carried by the locking member which serves to pivot the locking member outwardly and to maintain the upper portion thereof in spaced relationship to the roller 86 provided on the detent. Accordingly, the parts noted above are relieved of all stress.

When the container is being lifted as, for example, from a freight car, in order to discharge its contents, the relationship between the door, the locking member and the detent becomes that illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. At this time, the swinging edge of the door is supported upon the ledge 75 of the locking member and is maintained in this position by the engagement between the roller 72 in the upper edge of the locking member and the roller 36 of the detent. The hinged edge of the door is supported upon the hinge pins. I

In order to release the door so as to discharge the contents of the container, the loop 98 is grasped and an outward pull exerted upon the cable 93. Rotation is thereupon imparted to the detent 81 which causes its roller 85 to roll upwardly upon the roller 72 of the locking member 69. When the roller 86 reaches the position indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the restraining influence of the detent upon the locking member is removed and the weight of the door and the contents of the container thereupon become eifective to swing the locking member in clockwise di- 6 rection as viewed in Fig. 4 so that the swinging or free edge of the door is released from the ledge 75 and the door opens. Swinging movement of the locking member 69 is limited by means of the angle stop 101 which extends between and is secured as by means of welding to the cheek plates 61 and 62. When the cable is released the helical spring which has been placed in tension by the rotation of the detent serves to impart rotation in the opposite direction to the detent so that the roller 86 will engage the roller 72 of the locking member and the spring will be effective to prevent pivotal movement of the locking member in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The indicated relationship between the detent member and the locking member when the door has been released from the ledge 75 of the locking member is clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

It is desired that the door when open will hang at an angle of approximately 45 to the base of the container. To this end and to cushion the opening movement of the door a plate 102 extends between and is secured as by means of welding to each of the pairs of hinge plates 103 and 104. The plate 102 is set inwardly from the inner edges of the hinge plates so as to cooperate therewith to provide a pocket within which a rubber stop 105 is secured as by means of bolts 106 and 107 extending through the rubber stop and the hinge plates. By this construction the desired angularity of the door when opened is obtained so that the door may be closed by lowering the container upon a support, the closing movement of the door progressing until the bottom of the container is in contact with the support;

With particular reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings it will be seen that as the door approaches the closed position the free or swinging edge thereof will engage the roller 78 on the locking member and through it impart rotation to the locking member 69 in counter-clockwise direction. By reason of the engagement between the roller '72 on the locking member and the roller 86 on the detent the counter-clockwise rotation of the locking member will impart a similar rotation to the detent and the spring 90 will be placed under tension. At a point in the counter-clockwise rotation of the locking member and detent the roller 86 on the detent will be free of the roller 72 on the locking member and the spring will become efiective to rotate the detent in clockwise direction into the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In this position the detent engages the angle stop member 101 and its rotation is arrested. The locking member continues its counter-clockwise rotation under the influence of the closing movement of the door so that when the container is supported upon its base and the door is fully closed, the relationship of the parts shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings is restored. When the container is again lifted from the support the door remains locked and the relationship of the parts is as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In the event that the detent is actuated by means of the cable when the door is closed and the container is seated upon a support, it will be clear that upon release of the cable the engagement between the detent and the locking member as shown in Fig. 3 will again occur. Accidental loss of the contents of the container is thereby avoided.

In order to release the locking mechanism and discharge the contents of the container the loop 98 of the cable may be engaged by a hook. may be engaged by a cable running to the cab of the hoisting mechanism so that the operator of the hoisting mechanism may from the cab exert a pull upon the cable 93 in order to unlock the door.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 121,986, of Carl E. Johansson, filed October 18, 1949, for Transportation Containers for Bulk Materials.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modi- If desired the loop fioations inithe details of theinv'entionwillibe clearto.

those: skilled in the art 'It is intended', thereforc, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended withini this invention which is to belimited only by the scope of the claims appended Ihereto. r

I claim: a V

,1'. In a transportation container for bulk materials having-a discharge opening in the bottom .thereoflta door for closingfthe discharge opening, said door comprising a frame formed of substantially Z-shaped members, eachof saidmcmbers having a substantially vertical web, an

inwardly directed substantially horizontal lower flange and an outwardly directed substantially horizontal upper flangehand a corrugated panel disposed upon andsecured to said upper flanges, the corrugations of said panel, extending in'a direction from the hinged end'of said door 7 to the swinging end thereof, said upper flanges being turned upwardly beyond and around said panel.

3v A transportation'container for bulk materials comprisingside and end walls terminatingabove the bottom of said container, a horizontal and rectangular base embodyin substantially channel-shaped side and end members, means securing adjacent ends of said members togather :to define a discharge opening for said container,

eachof sai'd'members having ahorizontalweb and inner and outer downwardly extending flanges, said inner flanges terminating above the bottom of said container, side and end slope sheets secured to the lower margins of the respective walls andtextending downwardly and inwardly therefrom and secured to said base members above said inner vertical flanges, corner angles secured to the marginal portions of said side and end walls which are adjacent to one. another, said corner angles extending downwardly from said side and end walls to said rectangular base, and means securing said corner angles to said rectangular base at the corners thereof.

'4. A transportation container for bulk materials comprising. s'ide and end walls terminating above the bottom of said container, a horizontal rectangular base including substantially channel-shaped side and end member, means securing adjacent ends of said members together to define a discharge opening for said container, each of said membersthaving a horizontal web and inner and outer down wardly extending flanges, said inner flanges terminating above the bottom of said container, side and end slope sheetstsecured to the'lower margins of the respective walls and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom and secured to said base members above said inner vertical flanges, corner angles secured to the marginal portions of i said side and end walls which are adjacent to oneanother, said corner angles extending downwardly from said side andend walls to said rectangular base, means securing saidtcor'ner angles to said rectangular base at the corners thereof, and a door hinged to said container for closing the dischargefop'ening, said door lying in asubstantially horizontal position within the perimeter of the container when ,ClOSlIlgIthE discharge opening, said door having up standing ,perimetricalflanges, said latter flanges being spaced outwardly of and ovcrlappingsaid inner flanges of said base members when said door, is closed.

i transportation container for bulk materials com! prising side'and end walls terminating above the bottom of .saidcontainer, a horizontalrcctangular base including sidel and end members, means securing adjacent ends or said members together to define a discharge openingfor said bontainer,each of said members having a' downwardly extending substantially vertical flange terminating aboye'v the bottomtof said container, sideand end slope sheets secured to the lower margins of the respective walls 1 G j and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom and secured to said members above said vertical flanges,.

corner angles secured to the marginal portions of said side and end walls which areadjacent to one another, .said corner angles extending downwardly from said sideand end wallsto. said rectangular base, means securing said,

corner angles to said rectangular base attthe corners thereof, and a door hinged to said container for closing the discharge opening, saiddoorlying in a' substantially horizontal position within the perimeter ofrthe container when closing the discharge opening, said door havingupstanding perimetrical flanges, said latter flanges ibcing spaced outwardly of and overlapping said .vertical flanges of said base members when said door is closed. j I

6. A transportation container 'for bullcmaterials comprising side and end walls terminating above the bottom of said container, a horizontal rectangular base including side and end members, means securing adjacent ends of said members together to define a discharge opening fQI' said container, eachtojr" said members having a downwardly extending substantially vertical flange, terminating above the bottom of said container, side and end slope sheets secured to the lower margins of the respective walls and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom and securedtotsaid base members above said vertical flanges, corner angles secured to the marginal portions of said 7 side and end walls which are adjacent to oneanother, 1 said corner angles extending downwardly'from said side 7 and end walls to. said rectangular base, means securing said corner angles to said rectangular base at the corners thereof, a door hinged to said container for closing the} discharge opening, said door lying within the perimeter of the container when closing the discharge opening, said door having upstanding perimetrical flanges, said latter flanges beingspaced outwardly of and overlapping said vertical flanges of said base memberswhen said door is closed, au'outwardly opening latch housing secured to and extending inwardly of one of said sidewalls, said housing overlapping the swinging end of said 7 door and lying adjacent tothe upper surface thereof when said door is closed, said downwardly extending vertical flange of said side member of said'base adjacent tosaid'swinging end of said door when'said door'is closed and said upstanding flange on said swinging end of said door being interrupted at said latch housing, an upstanding'substantially channelshaped member secured tothe upper surface of said door at said interrupted portion of said upstanding flange, said channel-shaped member extending into said latch housing and having outwardly spaced overlapping relationship therewith when said door is closed.

References Cited in the file of'this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 638,280 Robinson et-al. a Dec. 5, 1899 1,853,673 Dorey Apr; 12, 1932 j t 2,036,170 Fildes Man 31, 1936 2,126,949 Ditchfield Aug; 16, 1938' 2,569,828 Peacock et al 'Oct. 2, 1951 Dempster June 10, 1952 5 

